Dr Paul Allen

Most of us have read John 5:1–9—the story of the blind, paralyzed man at the pool of Bethesda—many times. But I’ll bet there’s something that escaped your attention. Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for a feast of the Jews. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. 5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” 7 “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” 8 Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.” (John 5:1–9 NIV) If you read close...

This painting (oil on wood) from the last third of the 17th century alludes to the popular proverb "Nimm dich selbst bei der Nase" ("take yourself by your nose"). It's also called "Vogel Selbsterkenntnis" (Bird of self-knowledge) and exists in several samples (three, at least, in that same museum). (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) The book of Proverbs is an entire book of short practical sayings . However, this compilation of proverbial wisdom is different from all other such collections in that these sayings reflect not just human wisdom but divine wisdom, for these proverbs are inspired by God . We must be very careful in how we approach and implement these wise sayings. Simply because they are inspired does not mean that the biblical proverbs are like laws, imposing a universal obligation. Yet, some people treat them as if they were divine commandments. If we regard them in that way, we run into all kinds of trouble. Even divinely inspired proverb...

Image via Wikipedia "In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise." ( Proverbs 10:19 )   The book of Proverbs has much wise counsel concerning the use of the tongue. It contains, for example, no less than 27 sober warnings against speaking lies!  There are also at least eight condemnations of gossiping. For example: "A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter" ( 11:13 ).   Then there are warnings against using the tongue to criticize, or to slander, or to hurt.  A good example is in  12:18 : "There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health," and also in  18:8 : "The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly."   Too much talking is also dangerous, as our text for the day points out, for it often results in sin. In this connection, one of the most picturesque pro...